Leadership change: High command's decision final, hints CM, Sidda's words 'veda vakya,' says DKS
Bengaluru, Nov 24 (PTI): With the DK Shivakumar camp pushing hard for his elevation as Chief Minister of Karnataka in light of a rumoured power sharing agreement with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the CM on Monday said he will continue in the post if the party high commands decides so, remarks his deputy endorsed as "vedavakya (sacrosanct) for us."
With more legislators backing the deputy CM apparently knocking the doors of Congress leaders in Delhi with a plea to implement the purported agreement, Siddaramaiah reiterated Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's statement that the party will take a call on leadership change, an issue that has been hotly debated in Karnataka's power corridors over the past many days.
Six MLAs backing Shivakumar for the top post reached Delhi on Sunday, while more are expected to join them in their bid to lobby for their leader's elevation, even as a set of legislators had earlier flown to Delhi over the same issue.
ALSO READ: If Cong high command decides, I will continue as CM: Siddaramaiah
On Monday, Siddaramaiah said the high command takes the ultimate call on the leadership change, and that it should be accepted by himself as well as his deputy.
"We will abide by the high command decision. If they decide I should continue (as CM), I will continue. Ultimately, whatever the high command decides, I should accept it. Shivakumar should also accept it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
Asked if Shivakumar, also the state Congress chief, would become the CM, he said, "When I have said the high command will decide, you are asking me the same thing again."
Responding, Shivakumar who shared the dais with the CM at an official event, said the remarks of the veteran leader are "veda vakya" for us.
"Once he (Siddaramaiah) has said, it is veda vakya for us," Shivakumar said.
ALSO READ: More Karnataka Cong legislators backing Shivakumar travel to Delhi
Expressing his agreement to the CM's statement on the issue, he called Siddaramaiah an "asset" for the Congress party, and that everyone is working together in the government under his guidance.
Asked about some more Congress MLAs going to Delhi, he said they have a desire to become ministers, amid talks of cabinet reshuffle and asked "what's wrong" with that."
"As the CM said, we can't stop anyone from going to Delhi where our leaders are, where our party office, which is like a temple, is. To build their future, they will go. What's wrong? If they make any statements against the party, form groups, organise dinners, and go against the party, it will violate party discipline. I don't know what they (legislators) have said. As there were talks about cabinet reshuffle they have gone, hoping to get a chance," he said
The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified, amid speculations of CM change in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The speculation is fueled by reports of the so-called power-sharing agreement reached in 2023, suggesting a rotational CM tenure between the two influential leaders.
Earlier in the day, both leaders shared a stage at an event here, where Siddaramaiah inaugurated a high-tech silk cocoon market, launched various development works worth around Rs 2,000 crore, and distributed social security scheme benefits to selected beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, senior Minister K J George, considered close to Siddaramaiah, clarified on a recent late night meeting with Shivakumar, stating that they only discussed government matters and the upcoming Bengaluru corporation election.
He denied discussing leadership change or being tasked by the party with mediation.
Speaking to reporters in Yadgir, he said, "Shivakumar is the Deputy CM, a party colleague and we keep meeting, what is wrong in that? I have discussed government matters with Shivakumar, also the upcoming Bengaluru corporation election. AICC has not given me any responsibility to discuss (on leadership issues)."
Replying to a question, George asserted that "there is no rebellion in the party for it to be pacified. We are all a Congress family."
Meanwhile, former KPCC chief and Home Minister G Parameshwara has also thrown his hat in the ring, amid calls for a Dalit CM to take over the reins in the event of a leadership change.
Besides the six pro-Shivakumar MLAs who are in Delhi now, few more legislators are likely to travel soon to pitch for the KPCC chief as CM, party sources said.
The MLAs who are camping in Delhi are -- H C Balakrishna, K M Uday, Nayana Motamma, Iqbal Hussain, Sharath Bachegowd and Shivaganga Basavaraj, sources added.
Siddaramaiah had earlier met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru.
Kharge has also stated that the Congress high command will decide on the matter.
Last week, about 10 MLAs supporting Shivakumar travelled to New Delhi and met Kharge, as the Congress government completed 2.5 years in office on November 20.
Shivakumar, however, had then said he was not aware of legislators travelling to Delhi to meet Kharge.
Subsequently, Siddaramaiah on Saturday held more than an hour long meeting with Kharge at his residence here.
While Siddaramaiah is pushing for a reshuffle of his Cabinet, Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on leadership change, Congress sources have said.
According to several party insiders, the high command's nod for a cabinet reshuffle would mean Siddaramaiah will complete the full five-year term, thus denying Shivakumar the elevation.
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
